As I sat in the rattling carriage, I overheard the guards mumbling outside.
"We're almost at the Sylvian Empire border. Gotta stay alert—those barbarians will crush us if we slip up."
Barbarians, huh? I raised an eyebrow.
I leaned back and tried to recall what I could from my first life.But… no memory of the Sylvian Empire ever beating the Kalgas Empire guards. If anything, it was always the other way around with kalgas sly methods. Hah. Must be some dramatic rumor to scare rookie guards. Classic.
Curious, I opened the carriage window and peeked outside.
The view hit me like a surprise slap my eyes widened seeing it.
A massive palace stood tall in the distance—sleek, dark, and intimidating in a rich, elegant way. It was beautiful, in a "this place could host both a royal ball and a public execution" kind of way.
Beyond that, the streets were bustling with people.
Ordinary civilians strolled around… but something was off.Everyone was tall. Like, unnecessarily tall. Even the kids looked like they'd been stretched out like noodles.
Not bulky or muscular—just long.
What are they feeding these people? Giraffe potions? Cloudberries? Height-enhancing tea?!
I squinted harder."Yup. Definitely taller. This isn't an empire—it's a vertical challenge."
Ughhh. I still need to figure out how to make money in this new... old life? Also, who the hell poisoned me in my first life? My soon-to-be husband is my number one suspect. Should I punch him in the face just in case? Preventive measures, you know?
Meanwhile, somewhere above in the watchtower...
Three figures stood quietly, watching the slow-moving royal carriage below. None of them were aware that the girl inside it was currently plotting violence.
A bulky man crossed his arms with furrowed his brows and muttered, "Alex, I bet this so-called princess is just like the rest of those sly Sylvian folks. I don't trust any of 'em. Always hiding something."
Alex, a handsome redhead in polished armor, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Another man, John, who stood beside them, gave james a sidelong glance before responding. "Stop speculating. She's going to be His Highness's consort. Show some respect."
But despite his words, John's tone was careful—almost calculating. His eyes remained locked on the carriage, mind clearly running through every possibility. Friend or foe? Tool or threat?
Back in the carriage:
I could feel a sneeze coming. Someone must be talking behind my back. Hah, I'll find out later. First: money and murder mystery.
"As my carriage stopped outside the palace, the guards opened it with a level of respect I hadn't seen earlier. Ahh, guess they're trying to look loyal now.",
As soon as I placed one foot outside the carriage, a warm breeze brushed against my face. Blinking against the sunlight, I looked around—and saw a sea of people gathered outside the palace gates. Whispers rippled through the crowd like a wave.
"Whoa… is that the one who's going to marry His Highness?"
"But… why does she look so dirty?"
Wow. What a warm welcome. I could feel their judgment pierce through my worn-out dress like needles. Rude.
From the carriage door, three men stepped forward.
The first one, a tall guy with bright red hair with red shirt and black pants clothes and with an overly serious expression, gave a polite bow.
"Greetings. I'm Alex, His Highness's sword."
I blinked. Sword? Is that a name or a weird title?
Before I could ask, the second man stepped forward. He had jet-black hair and sharp black eyes that looked like they could slice steel. Very dramatic.
"Hello, Princess. My name is John. If I may… could I inquire about the meaning of your attire—if it's not too rude?"
I furrowed my brows. Why is he speaking like he's trying to decode a riddle? Just ask what you really mean, man.
With a perfectly calm expression, I clasped my hands and replied sweetly, "Can't you just get to the point? And yes, that old man was insulting you. You should totally go beat him up."
John blinked, stunned. In his mind, Kalgas nobles were always sly, manipulative types—but this girl? She was... refreshingly blunt.
John's inner thoughts:
Isn't she supposed to be cunning and indirect? Why is she so straightforward…? Actually, I kind of like this way of talking.
Then the third guy stepped up. He was bulky and covered in scars. He didn't say a word—just lowered his head and flexed his scars like some kind of warning sign.
"Ugggggghhhhhh…"
I tilted my head at him. "Is your stomach hurting? Why are you groaning like that?"
The bulky man, James, froze in disbelief. He clenched his fists.
James's inner thoughts:
She… she isn't scared of me? What's wrong with this girl?!
John glanced sideways, and in his mind, the princess's respect bar went ding!—one level up.
I started glancing around, curious. This was Sylvian territory, right? Where was the scary red-eyed husband?
John noticed my searching eyes and immediately said, "Princess, His Highness is at the border right now. He's fighting off beasts to stop them from invading the empire."
Fighting beasts? Wow. My mysterious husband is a beast-fighting cold prince… Great. Totally normal.
leona raised a finger to her lips, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"Now that I think about it," she muttered under her breath, "that person—my so-called future husband—will only show up when the marriage ceremony happens, right?"
Her expression turned blank for a second, then dark.
"Wait… is he one of those mysterious 'appear-only-at-the-last-second' types? Ugh, typical cold prince behavior. Watch him show up five minutes before the wedding in slow motion, wind blowing through his hair and all."
John overheard the mumble and coughed awkwardly.
"Princess, is… something troubling you?"
Leona waved her hand dismissively. "Nope. Just mentally preparing myself to meet my future poisoned-food supplier—I mean, loving husband."
James, the scarred one, twitched.
Alex looked confused. "Poisoned… food?"
John, once again, found himself torn between concern and admiration for the princess's unpredictable personality.
John's inner thoughts:She's sharp, sarcastic, and fearless. Either she's incredibly brave… or completely unhinged. I'm not sure which one yet, but it's definitely entertaining.